Ignition lock and switch



Deci 18, 1945'. R. u. BEAGLES 2,391,119

'IGNITION LOCK AND SWITCH I Filed July 5, 1944 INVENTOR.

BY f '//f f.

` barrel 4.

Patented Dec.'18, 1945 :UNITED temarios tous are 1 Rufus J- rl3eli-rls, Fort ilrg, Fla Application July 5, 1944; seria-1 No. stesse s ,(.Clzool- 42) l .This invention relates :to a combined 'lock and switch for kthe ignition circuits yof motor vehicles, etc., one ,of theobjects being to `provide a struc.-` ture `of this .character from. which thevignition switchcan not be opened until the key has been removed from the lock.-

:It is a well 4'known fact `that drivers frequently leave their keys in the ignition lock and if they' thereafter close and Vlook the vehicle doors acci,-V dentally, the problem of getting into the oar {be-A Gomes ,a difficult one vand frequently necessitates breaking a glass. Theft is also invited `.by leaving the `key in thelock,

rlhe present invention Vhas hfor its object the provision Vof a novel `*for-n1 .of switch and lock which requires removalo'f .the 4key in order torstop the motor.

claimen being understood that changes ylfI/layzbe' made in the construction-.and arrangemerkt .of parts withoutdeparting from thefspirit f@2f the ventiQn as .Glamed- VVlnthe accompanying ,granting the praterie@ iorm'of the invention has been shown.

1n said granting.:

Figure lis a longitudinal section through the lock and' showing the normal positions of the parts when the key is removed.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the parts when a proper key is inserted.

Figure 3 is another view like Figs. 1 and 2 showing the ignition circuit closed and locked when the key is turned following its insertion.

Referring to the iigures by characters of reference, I designates the housing of the lock which contains the usual lock mechanism comprising spring-pressed pins 2 adapted to matchf with pins 3 loc-ated in a rotatable key-receiving Under normal conditions a key of the proper size and configuration, when inserted into the barrel, will allow the pins to adjust themselves so that their meeting ends will .be

flush with the surface of the barrel, thereby allowing the barrel to be rotated to open or close the ignition switch. It has frequently happened, however, that the key has been left in the lock after the current has been turned ofl", with the disadvantages resulting as heretofore explained.

In the present structure the inner end of the barrel is provided with a-cam 5 with which co- 55 operates a .second cam member .6 joined by a stem 1 Lto a vbar 8 extended longitudinally within the housing. This bar .is slidably mounted.. the .inner end being in position in a guide socket l9 while adjacent to its other end there Zis located a web I0 'hav-ing an .opening I i in which the is mounted to slide. A .chamber I2 provided the housing-between the web 1| 0 andthe adjacent end of the :housing and Aone .end vof the barisex.-

tended into this chamber'. The bar is formed of VIl when the other pins 3 and 2 are .similarly-.Dosis tioned.

A11 of the -pins 2 and ..4 .are AIzbmvided with springs H for exerting `ya .constant .pressure against them. The spring engaging pin- M; hom,- ever, is ,extended/around .-a stem '1.8 projecting yfrom .-pini4 and into .chamber t2 where it nor-.-

many-presses `against the flat inner rside .of 'ft-he resilient vstrip` .I8 iat :a point between the Vopening I3 and the free end of the strip. This strip is maintained in this position relative to the stem I8 by a coiled spring I9 mounted thereon and bearing at one end against web I0 While its other end .bears against the stem 1. This stem serves to hold the driven cam member 6 normally pressed against the driving cam member 5.

A contact is carried by the driven cam member 6 and its stern 1 as indicated at 20 and another contact 2I is located adjacent thereto but normally spaced therefrom. These two contacts are included in the ignition circuit and when they are spaced apart the circuit is broken.

When the key K is removed from the lock the pins are in their normal positions with their meeting ends out of alinement with the surface of the Y being forced Atoward the pins 2 with the result' that contact 20 will be brought against contact 2|, thereby closing the ignition circuit, and the opening I3 in the end portion of strip 8, will be brought over the stem I8. Consequently the exed strip Will snap downwardly so that the stem I8 wil1 enter opening I3, thereby locking the strip 8 aganst return movement under the action of its spring I9 which was placed under compression when `the contact, `20V was'` forced against V.Contact 2 I ,The ignition, circuit is .now closed and the switch is locked in closed position by the cooperating parts 8 and I8. As long as the key remains in the lock after the lock has been turned to produce the result described, the ignition circuit will remain closed. However should it be desired to stop the engine by breaking the ignition circuit, it is rst necessary to rotate the' key and the barrel in the reverse direction. This will cause the driving cam 5 to move away from the :driven cam 6 but the circuit will remain closed until the keyis removed from'the lock. At that time the spring bearing against the pin I4 will thrust said pindownwardly with suflicient force tocause the stem I8 to withdraw from opening I3. Consequently the cam 6 will be thrust back against cam 5 by the expanding spring I9 and the opening I3 Vwill be moved out of alinement with the stem I8. Thus the circuitis broken.

When the key is again inserted, the cooperatingpins I6 and I4 will again push stem I8 upwardlyV against the projecting end of strip 8 so as to ilex it after which, by rotating the key, the cams will again be actuated to close the circuit and to causefthe moved strip 8 to be engaged and locked bystem I8 entering the opening I3.

Importance'i's attached to the simplicity of this device' and to the'further fact that it can be used wherever it is-desired` to have a key-controlled switch .which can be open only .by the removal' of the key.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a key-operated barrel lock including cooperating pins, of a cam rotatable'with the barrel of the lock, a structure shiftabl by 'the cam when rotated in one direction, said structure including the movable contact, of a-sw'itchand a flexiblev strip having anv opening, means movable with one of the pins for movement into the aperture when said strip is shifted in one direction by the cam and the switch closed, means for automatically disengaging the pin from said strip when the key is removed, and means for automatically returning the strip and the movable contact to their initial positions when the strip is released, thereby to open the switch.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a. housing including a key-receiving barrel rotatably mounted, lxed and movable switch contacts, and an elongated strip movable With the movable contact and having an open..

ving, of cooperating pins in the housing and barrel proportioned to release the barrel for rotation when a key-of proper contour is inserted, yielding means for holding the contacts normally spaced apart, means on one of the pins for holding the strip under pressure when a key is in position, means operated by the rotation of the barrel for shifting the movable contact against the other contact to close the switch and for shifting the strip out of normal position, there being an aperture in the strip, means on one of the pins for entering the aperture when the strip is shifted, and means for releasing the strip and the movable contact when the key is withdrawn.

3. A switch and lock for ignition circuits or the like including a housing, a rotatable key-receiving barrel therein, pins in the housing and barrel respectively cooperating to release the barrel for rotation when a proper key is inserted into the barrel, a stem on one of the pins, a resilient locking strip slidably mounted inthe housing and having an opening, said strip being positioned to flex under pressure from said stem when its pin is shifted by the insertion of a key, a switch including a contact movable with the strip and a stationary contact, means actuated by the rotation of the barrel for closing the switch and shifting the flexed strip to position the opening to receive the stem thereby to lockthe strip against movement and the switch closed, means for actuating the stem and its pin to Withdraw said stem from the opening when the key is removed, and means for returning the strip to its initial position and opening the switch when the barrel is rotated toits initial position and the key removed.

RUFUS J. BEAGLES. 

